Traditionally, consultants come from backgrounds in finance, strategy, economics, or business management. Top firms tend to recruit graduates from target business schools, and the industry is notoriously quantitative and analytical.
Fortunately, there’s growing recognition that individuals from different backgrounds can offer a unique perspective coupled with logical thinking.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can navigate a non-traditional journey into consulting by networking with like-minded individuals, gaining quantifiable experience, and embracing your unique background in order to stand out in the competitive landscape of management consulting.
Networking: Connecting with Like-Minded Individuals
One tool for breaking into management consulting from a non-traditional background is networking with people who share a similar journey. Seek out individuals who have successfully made the leap from diverse backgrounds to consulting – especially those who graduated from a similar educational background to you.
Talking with people who have already successfully navigated the journey that you are on can help you to brand yourself more effectively, as you learn how they used their unique story to prepare for interviews and the workforce. Individuals from similar backgrounds also tend to run in similar circles. They may know more people that they can refer you to, and they might be more inclined to offer support, advice, and referrals, as they recognise the potential for mutual growth.
Gaining Relevant and Quantifiable Experience
While a non-traditional background can be a unique asset in management consulting, it’s essential to demonstrate your value through relevant experience. You should seek out opportunities to gain hands-on experience that aligns with the kind of skills sought after in consulting. For example, you can engage in projects, internships, or volunteer work that allow you to apply problem-solving, analytical thinking, and strategic decision-making skills.
It is important to quantify your experience whenever possible, using metrics to showcase your impact. Did you streamline processes that resulted in a 30% increase in efficiency? Did you implement a strategy that led to a 20% rise in customer satisfaction? Quantifying your achievements not only enhances your credibility, but also showcases your ability to contribute quantifiable value to consulting projects.
Embracing Your Unique Background: A Different Perspective
In management consulting, situations are multi-faceted, and many potential solutions could theoretically be explored by a team. A unique background can provide transferable skills for your case manager to lean on since a diverse team of consultants is likely to be able to relate to a client’s unique needs with greater ease. After all, your background may give you an edge in understanding certain industries or markets, enabling you to offer specialised expertise that others might lack.
That being said, since consultants are expected to learn about different industries on a steep learning curve, their specific educational background matters far less than their ability to logically address the root cause of a business problem. According to Management Consulted, a consultant “assessing a ‘sick’ business or business model” is in many ways similar to a JD evaluating a sick patient. Which ever background you hail from, your critical thinking and problem-solving skills are paramount.
Conclusion
Breaking into management consulting from a non-traditional background requires a combination of strategic networking, gaining relevant and quantifiable experience, and embracing your own individuality.
By leveraging your distinct perspective, you can position yourself as a valuable asset in the consulting world. After all, given the complex business problems that consultants are tasked with solving, a team of generalist consultants will appreciate any individual who can bring a fresh perspective or new area of expertise to the firm.
Elle Cheney is a student at Brigham Young University with an interest in management consulting. She enjoys tennis, hiking, creative writing, travel, exploring new cultures, and mentoring K-12 students.
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